Guitar



T. H. WILLIAMS 2,270,612

GUITAR Filed Feb. 20, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet l K q Q #Q; 4 Q, Q

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Patented Jan. 20, 1942 UNITED STAT GUITAR Thornton Holman Williams, Chicago, Ill.

Application February 1941, Serial No. 379,888

1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in guitars and has for one of its important objects to provide an instrument of this character comprising a body of unique construction whereby a high quality of tone will be had in addition to great strength and durability.

Another very important object of the invention is to provide an instrument of the aforementioned character comprising novel means for rigidly securing the neck to the body.

Still another important object of the invention is to provide a guitar comprising a comparatively long neck and fingerboard, the latter being provided with more than the usual number of frets whereby the instrument may be more easily played.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a guitar of the character described which will be comparatively simple in construction, light in weight, attractive in appearance and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a top plan view of a guitar constructed in accordance with the present invention.

Figure 2 is a view in vertical longitudinal section through a portion of the instrument, taken substantially on the line 2-2 of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a cross sectional view through an intermediate portion of the body, taken substantially on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view in horizontal section through the joint between the body and the neck, taken substantially on the line 44 of Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the inner end portion of the neck and the finger board.

Referring now to the drawings in detail it will be seen that the embodiment of the invention which has been illustrated comprises a body which is designated generally by the reference numeral l. The body I includes a rim 2 having mounted thereon an upper head 3 constituting a sounding board, and a lower head 4. As illustrated to advantage in Figures 2 and 3 of the drawings, the body I is formed to provide a reduced or comparatively thin marginal portion 5 accomplished by curving the marginal portions of the heads 3 and 4 inwardly.

Mounted in the body I immediately below the upper head 3 are longitudinal and transverse braces 6 and 1, respectively. The braces 6 and I conform to the curvature or shape of the head 3. Mounted on the head 3, adjacent the transverse brace I, is a bridge 8. Sound openings 9 are provided in the head 3. The sound openings 9, it will be noted, are substantially ovate and longitudinally curved in shape. Mounted on the rear end of the box I is a suitable tail piece Ill.

Formed in the forward end of the rim 2 of the body I is a vertical slot II which continues through the heads 3 and 4 in the form of notches. Rigidly secured in the forward end portion of the body I is a block I2 which bridges the slot I I. Projecting forwardly from the body I is a neck I3. The neck I3 is longer than the necks of the usual instruments and said neck I3 terminates at its forward end in a correspondingly shorter head I4. Suitable tuning keys I5 are provided on the head I4. The inner or rear end of the neck I3 is square cut and formed to provide an enlargement or heel I6. This square cut inner end of the neck I3 is engaged in the slot II and rigidly secured to the block I2. The rear end of the neck I3 is also engaged in the notches in the heads 3 and 4 which constitute continuations of the slot II. Also, the neck I3 extends above the plane of the adjacent edge of the upper head 3, as clearly seen in Figure 2 of the drawings.

A strap I'I firmly secures the lower portion of the heel I6 to the lower head 4 of the body I. Mounted on the neck I3 is a finger board III. The finger board I8 extends from the neck I3 over the forward portion of the body I. A filler I9 is provided between the rear end portion of the fingerboard I8 and the comparatively thin front marginal portion of the body I.

The finger board I8 is provided with twentyfour frets 20. The sixteenth fret 20 is located at the point where the neck I3 joins the body I. The reference numeral 2I designates the strings of the instrument extending from the tail piece III to the tuning keys I5, saidstrings passing over the bridge 8 and a conventional nut 22 on the forward end portion of the neck 3.

The instrument is played in substantially the usual manner. However, it has been found that the longer neck and larger number of frets make the playing of the instrument easier compared with conventional guitars. The strong, rigid extending completely around said body. This is joint between the neck I3 and the body I, in addition to assuring long life, also provides an instrument which will hold or retain its tune.

It is believed that the many advantages of a guitar constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood and although a preferred embodiment of the instrument is as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction and in the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A guitar including a body comprising a rim and upper and lower heads mounted on said rim, the forward end of the body having a vertical slot in the rim continuing through the heads, a block in the forward end portion of the body bridging the slot, a neck including a square cut heel on one end set into the slot and secured to the block, said heel fitting between the side edges of the slot and against the front edges of said heads, a strap securing the heel to the lower head, said slot extending along the lower head and under the bottom of the heel, a finger board on the neck extending therefrom over a portion of the body, and a filler element secured between the projecting portion of the finger board and the adjacent portion of the body.

THORNTON HOLMAN WILLIAMS. 

